The Rev. Meurig Williams, Rector of Mallow Union, writes:
It was very good to host a community event at St Mary’s Doneraile to celebrate International Women’s Day, with its theme this year of ‘Gender equality for a sustainable future.’
Photos by Daisychain Photography
The evening offered a local microcosm of the breadth and depth of artistic creativity being generated by women throughout the world. This included displaying art by local artists, some recitation and acting, much singing and instrumental music as well as some fine story telling which captured the imagination. We were reminded of the way art, music, literature can inspire us, in a world where there is so much grasping for power and hostility.
Photos by Daisychain Photography
The event was formally inaugurated by Cllr Deirdre O’Brien, the Mayor of Fermoy, bringing a distinctive and creative voice to the political sphere and the public life of our communities here in North Cork.
All proceeds from the event went towards the current efforts here in Ireland to help Ukranian refugees who are fleeing the war in their homeland.
The evening was compered by Mary St Leger who is one of our churchwardens at St Mary’s. Huge thanks were extended to her for organising this annual event, showing how positive it can be when the Church looks beyond its own boundaries and engages imaginatively with the whole community.
At a ceremony on Friday 11th March in the Clayton Silver Springs Hotel in Cork, organised by Cork Civic Life and attended by more than 700 people, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, was one of those to whom a Pride of Cork Award was presented.
Bishop Colton said that he was very surprised to have been nominated by members of the public for the award:
So many of the other award winners are people who have done wonderful and inspiring things, They are people, many of whom I know and work with in Cork, and admire greatly. I never imagined I’d be nominated by members of the public. I was especially delighted that many said they were helped by my night time prayers and short reflections on Twitter throughout the lockdowns of the pandemic. All I though I was doing was tweeting at about 9.30 p-.m. or 10 p.m. each night to give people a prayerful or reflective focus at the end of another tough day.
Miriam O’Callaghan of RTE presenting Bishop Paul Colton with his Pride of Cork Award. Photo: Erich Stack Photography
The citation which accompanied Bishop Colton’s award was read by Master of Ceremonies, PJ Coogan of Cork 96 FM and was as follows:
‘Our next recipient tonight is Dr. Paul Colton, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross who was nominated by numerous people in the public call for nominations and is receiving A Pride of Cork Award for the following reasons:
His night prayers for people during the Covid months, be they religious or not, and who joined with him in the spirit and intention of those prayers, and got hope, solace and inspiration from them.
In recognition of his 23 years as Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.
In recognition of the affection that the people have for him as a person and Church leader.
In recognition of his inclusiveness for all in our society.
In recognition of the fact that in 2020 he became the longest serving Bishop of Cork Cloyne and Ross in over 400 years since Bishop William Lyon in 1617
In recognition of the fact that also in 2020, he became the longest serving Bishop still in office in the Anglican Churches of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales
In recognition of his ability to speak out and be heard in Civic, Church and State matters
‘Bishop Paul Colton is one of those inspiring people whose contribution to people, causes and Cork is truly deserving of A Pride of Cork Award so that we can say thank you to him for his commitment in helping to lead, inspire and guide, Cork and her people.’
Following the Government announcement that 18th March 2022 would be a public holiday, described by An Tánaiste as a ‘day of remembrance and recognition’, the clergy of Cork, Cloyne and Ross agreed to open churches across the Diocese to make symbolical, liturgical and prayerful space for remembrance and recognition.
From St Patrick’s night until the morning of 18th March church light will be left on to proclaim Christ the light of the world, shining in darkness. On 18th March, principal churches in all parishes will be open for people to visit and pray between 10am and 12noon. Some churches will hold a specific liturgy. In those churches where there is a bell/bells, they will be bellringing at 11am.
For specific events in each parish please refer to the list below.
Bishop Paul Colton lighting a candle during the Diocesan Synod 2021 in remembrance of those who died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Bishop, Dr Paul Colton, welcomed these initiatives from the parishes and chaplaincies of the Diocese:
When I met on ZOOM with the group of clergy in response to the announcement by An Taoiseach of this public holiday as a day of recognition and remembrance, everyone agreed that we should do something appropriate not only to acknowledge the suffering of so many during this pandemic and not only to remember all who have died, but also to give thanks for the so many generous, sacrificial, human responses to the challenges we have all been living through, most especially by frontline workers. As the war in Ukraine now, understandably, dominates our news and preoccupies our current responses, it is important that we do not ‘move on’ from the shared experience of the pandemic, without remembering and recognising those who need to be remembered and recognised. In any case, the pandemic, like this war, has changed and is changing our world. Christian neighbourly responses of generosity, hospitality and compassion, will continue to be needed for a long time to come.
The parishes below have supplied information about their plans for Friday 18th March. For other parishes, please consult the local clergy. You will find the places listed on the Diocesan website HERE.
Abbeystrewry Union
Abbeystrewry Church and St. Barrahane’s, Castletownshend will be open for the day.
The Bells in Abbeystrewry will be rung at 11 am, and this will be followed by a liturgy in Abbeystrewry Church.
Ballydehob Union
St Matthias Church, Ballydehob will be open between 10am and 12noon.
Bandon Union
St Peter’s Church in Bandon will be open between 10am and 12noon. A liturgy is planned for 11.30am, please contact the Rev. Denis MacCarthy for more information.
There will be bells rung at 11am.
Carrigaline Union
The lights in St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline and St John’s Church, Monkstown will be left on overnight from 17th to 18th March.
St John’s Church, Monkstown and St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline will be open between 10am and 12noon on 18th March.
There will be prayers in St John’s at 10am and prayers in St Mary’s at 12noon.
St John’s and St Mary’s bells will ring at 11am.
Carrigrohane Union
St Peter’s Church, Carrigrohane will be open between 10am and 12noon.
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork
The Cathedral will be open between 10am and 12noon.
Candle lighting and prayers in the Choir and Chancel with members of the Diocesan Youth Council, the Bishop and the Dean will take place at 11am.
There will be bell ringing at 11am.
Cobh and Glanmire Union
Christ Church, Rushbrooke will be open between 10am and 12noon.
At 10am the LAC approved liturgy will be read.
The bell will be rung at 11am.
Cloyne Union
St John the Baptist Church, Midleton will be open between 10am and 12noon.
The liturgy will be held at 12.45pm.
The bell will ring at 11am.
Douglas Union
All of the churches in Douglas Union with Frankfield will be open for prayer between 10 and 12 noon.
A short liturgy will be held in St Luke’s Douglas and St Michael’s Blackrock shortly after 11.00am.
The bells will be rung at 11 in Passage, Blackrock and Douglas.
Fanlobbus Union
St. Mary’s Church, Dunmanway will be open between 10am and 12noon.
There will be liturgy at 11.15am.
The Sam Maguire Community Bells will be rung at 11am.
Kilgariffe Union
Kilgarriffe Church, Clonakilty will be open between 10am and 12noon.
The bells will be rung at 11am.
Kilmocomogue Union
St James Church, Durrus will be open from 10am to 12noon. St Brendan’s Church, Bantry will be floodlight over that time.
The bell at St Brendan’s Church, Bantry will ring at 11am.
Kinsale Union
The Church of St Multose, Kinsale, will be open all day.
Mallow Union
All churches in Mallow Union will be open between 10am and 12noon.
Prayers will be said at 11.05am
Moviddy Union
St Mark’s Church, Kilbonane will be open between 10am and 12noon.
St Martin’s Church, Templemartin will ring their bell at 11am.
Templebreedy Group
Nohoval Church, Nohoval and Holy Trinity Church, Crosshaven will be open between 10am and 12noon.
There will be a liturgy at 11.05am. For more information please contact the Rev. Isobel Jackson.
Nohoval Church and Holy Trinity Church will ring their bells at 11am.
Youghal Union
St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal will be open all day.
During the first weekend in March, the Cork Diocesan Youth Council held their first Retreat Weekend since before the Covid-19 pandemic at the Carhue Centre in Bandon.
Hilda Connolly, Diocesan Youth Officer writes:
It is strange to think that the last residential weekend that the Cork Diocesan Youth Council held was the Confirmation Retreat in March 2020. It is nearly ironic that the first residential weekend after Covid restrictions were lifted, was the Confirmation Retreat March 2022 for this year’s upcoming candidates.
Thanks to Judy Peters, the Rev. Cliff Jeffers, Steve Grasham from CIYD, and the ‘Young Leaders in Training’ group, the weekend was full of different events, including sessions on the Bible, worship and prayer. They also organised a mini “Bake Off” competition, judged by Judy and Steve, Pilates and Dancefit sessions with Cathy Sweetnam from Core Studio, and an African Drumming Session with Steve.
It was great to be able to see a new group of young people gathering again, and to see the Young Leaders in action for the first time with some help from the older Youth Leaders. There was a great buzz around the Carhue Centre in Bandon over the two days. It is great to be back!
The Rev. Ciff Jeffers, Rector of Fanlobbus Union, writes:
On Thursday 24th of February the Fanlobbus Youth Group visited Coolkelure Farm, which is owned by John and Viri Kingston Castro, who are participating in ‘regenerative agriculture’. The confirmation group and young people from the youth group toured the farm and had the concept of regenerative farming explained to them.
Fanlobbus Youth Group and confirmation group at Coolkelure Farm
Spring is a great time to visit Coolkelure Farm, with all the lambs, puppies and chickens. In the second half of the day, our young people assisted with the setup of a vegetable tunnel, laying down cardboard and covering it with wood chippings. The day concluded with some Mexican food, homemade burritos and a tasting opportunity of organic goats milk which is produced directly on the farm.
Thank you to John, Viri and their family for a great tour and an insight into their environmentally sensitive method of farming.
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